wrongdoing

Meanings

1. 1noununcountable

   Illegal or immoral behavior; an act that breaks a rule, law, or moral standard.

   Grammar: Usually uncountable; no plural. Can be used with 'any' or 'no' (no wrongdoing).

   Patterns

   • accuse someone of wrongdoing
   • admit wrongdoing
   • deny wrongdoing
   • investigate wrongdoing

   The company denied any wrongdoing.

   The investigation found no evidence of wrongdoing.

   He was accused of financial wrongdoing.

2. 2nouncountable

   A particular instance of illegal or immoral behavior.

   Grammar: Countable when referring to specific acts; plural 'wrongdoings'.

   Patterns

   • a wrongdoing
   • several wrongdoings

   The report listed several wrongdoings by the officials.

   She confessed to a wrongdoing she had committed years ago.

Word forms

Common combinations

accuse someone of wrongdoing

They accused the manager of wrongdoing.

deny wrongdoing

The politician denied any wrongdoing.

admit wrongdoing

He admitted wrongdoing and apologized.

investigate wrongdoing

The police are investigating wrongdoing at the bank.

financial wrongdoing

The firm was fined for financial wrongdoing.

Synonyms and how they differ

crime

A crime is a specific act that is illegal; wrongdoing is broader and includes immoral acts that may not be illegal.

misconduct

Misconduct often refers to bad behavior in a professional or official role; wrongdoing is more general.

offense

An offense is a specific illegal act; wrongdoing can be any bad act, legal or not.

Opposites

Word family

wrongdoer noun

A person who does something illegal or immoral.

wrong adjective

Not correct or not moral.

Commonly confused: wrongdoing or wrong doing?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “wrongdoing”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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